Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for a link budget limited UE to improve communications performance with a cellular network. The UE may perform signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) measurements and use these measurements to adjust a received signal power value that is provided to the cellular network as a received signal power measurement. The UE may generate the received signal power value based at least in part on the SINR measurement in order to reduce the likelihood of handover when the UE has good SINR but poor received signal power. The UE may also provide preferred configuration information to the base station which enhances the performance of the UE when link budget limited. The configuration information may specify one or more parameter values designed to provide improved performance for a link budget limited device.

Abstract: A user equipment device (UE) may communicate according to a new device category satisfying specified QoS (quality of service) requirements while also satisfying specified link budget requirements, and additional optimization requirements. The UE may use physical channels and procedures (e.g. it may receive and decode control channels) in a manner compatible with and not infringing on the operation of other UEs operating in the same network, while allowing the network more flexibility to assign resources. Specifically, resources for EPDCCH on UE-specific SS and EPDCCH on common SS may be shared. That is, the resources for two search spaces may be overlaid partially or in full, giving the network more flexibility in allocating resources. Furthermore the DCI formats for MPDCCH may be extended to devices operating according to the new device category, which enables the coverage enhancement of MTC for these devices.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) device may communicate according to a new device category satisfying specified QoS (quality of service) requirements while also satisfying specified link budget requirements, and/or additional optimization requirements. The UE device may communicate with a cellular base station according to a first mode of operation associated with the new device category, and may switch to communicating with the cellular base station according to a second mode of operation associated with a second (pre-existing) device category in response to the link budget requirements exceeding a specified value and the quality of service requirements not being sensitive.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to temporary suspension, and subsequent resumption, of radio resource aggregation in a wireless communication system. A wireless device may establish a communication link with a base station. The communication link with the base station may aggregate radio resources according to a first wireless communication technology and a second wireless communication technology. Use by the communication link of radio resources according to the second wireless communication technology may be suspended. Wireless communication activity according to the second wireless communication technology that is not associated with the communication link may be performed while use by the communication link of radio resources according to the second wireless communication technology is suspended.

Abstract: A user equipment device (UE) may communicate according to a new device category satisfying specified QoS (quality of service) requirements while also satisfying specified link budget requirements, and additional optimization requirements. The UE may use physical channels and procedures (e.g. it may receive and decode control channels) in a manner compatible with and not infringing on the operation of other UEs operating in the same network, while allowing the network more flexibility to assign resources. Specifically, resources for EPDCCH on UE-specific SS and EPDCCH on common SS may be shared. That is, the resources for two search spaces may be overlaid partially or in full, giving the network more flexibility in allocating resources. Furthermore the DCI formats for MPDCCH may be extended to devices operating according to the new device category, which enables the coverage enhancement of MTC for these devices.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for coverage improvements in wireless communication devices. A wireless communication device may be configured to selectively receive one of a plurality of paging signals, or a portion thereof, based on measured or expected coverage quality of communications from a base station. In some scenarios, the wireless communication device may provide an indication to the base station of which paging signal the wireless communication device will attempt to receive, such that the base station may include paging information directed to that UE only in the indicated paging signal. In some scenarios, the base station may include paging information directed to that UE in a plurality of paging signals, each of the paging signals including a different number of repetitions of the paging information. In some scenarios, the UE may receive only a portion of a paging signal including a plurality of repetitions of the paging information.

Abstract: A mobile device (UE) may decode the Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) blindly, which may include obtaining resource elements (REs) that are reserved for the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), based on a largest value of a control format indicator (CFI), finding a total number of control channel elements (CCEs) according to the obtained REs, numbering the CCEs, and decoding the PDCCH for the largest value of the CFI over the numbered CCEs. Accordingly, the UE does not need to decode the PCFICH specifically. In some cases, the UE may indicate to the network that the UE is a constrained device, and the network may transmit control information according to a value intended for use by constrained devices. The UE may receive the transmitted value, and instead of decoding the PCFICH it may decode the control information based at least on the received value.

Abstract: Enhanced random access procedures for link-budget-limited user equipment (UE) devices are disclosed. A user equipment device may transmit a first message containing a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH). The PRACH contains instances of a Zadoff-Chu sequence, and may be transmitted repeatedly as part of a single random attempt, to facilitate correlation data combining at the base station. The available Zadoff-Chu sequences may be partitioned among a plurality of sets, each set being associated with a respective Doppler shift range (or frequency hop pattern or time repetition pattern). A UE device may signal Doppler shift (or other information) to the base station by selection of one of the sets. The first PRACH transmission and the following PRACH transmission may occur in consecutive subframes. A UE device may select from a special set of Zadoff-Chu sequences (different from a conventional set of sequences), to signal its status as a link-budget-limited device.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) and network entity implement improved communication methods which enable a UE to operate using differing modes of operation without detaching from a network. The UE may send first information indicating its capabilities to the network entity and may receive a first indication based on the first information. The first indication may indicate that the UE operate according to a first mode of operation. The UE may receive a second indication based on an occurrence of a first condition detectable at the network entity. The second indication may indicate that the UE operate according to a second mode of operation different from the first mode of operation. The first condition may be an initialization of a real time data packet session for the UE or may be a first message sent by the UE in response to one or more radio conditions exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for coverage improvements in wireless communication devices. A wireless communication device may be configured to selectively receive one of a plurality of paging signals, or a portion thereof, based on measured or expected coverage quality of communications from a base station. In some scenarios, the wireless communication device may provide an indication to the base station of which paging signal the wireless communication device will attempt to receive, such that the base station may include paging information directed to that UE only in the indicated paging signal. In some scenarios, the base station may include paging information directed to that UE in a plurality of paging signals, each of the paging signals including a different number of repetitions of the paging information. In some scenarios, the UE may receive only a portion of a paging signal including a plurality of repetitions of the paging information.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for supporting narrowband device-to-device wireless communication, including possible techniques for performing control and data communications between wireless devices that have performed discovery. A first device may transmit first control information to a second wireless device. The first control information may indicate a buffer status of the first wireless device. The first device may receive second control information from the second wireless device. The second control information may include an acknowledgement indication for the first control information. The first device may transmit a data communication to the second wireless device based at least in part on the first control information and the second control information.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for time division based communication between a wireless device and a wireless network in a licensed radio frequency (RF) band and an unlicensed RF band are disclosed. The wireless device receives downlink control information (DCI), via a primary component carrier (PCC) of a primary cell (Pcell) in the licensed RF band, indicating downlink (DL) data transmission via a secondary component carrier (SCC) of a secondary cell (Scell) in the unlicensed RF band. The wireless device receives via the SCC part of the DL data transmission and transmits a control message via the PCC in response. The wireless device sends a scheduling request (SR) to the eNodeB and receives uplink (UL) transmission opportunities in a combination of the licensed RF band and the unlicensed RF band. The wireless device performs a clear channel assessment before reserving and transmitting to the eNodeB in the unlicensed RF band.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) and associated method performs a voice call with a network, including exchanging voice packets, determines an uplink data transmission to be performed concurrently with the voice call and stores the uplink data transmission in a buffer. A base station and associated method performs a voice call with a UE, determines a downlink data transmission for the UE is to be performed concurrently with the voice call and stores the downlink data transmission in a buffer when the UE is a predetermined type. A UE and associated method associates with a first access point (AP), determines first performance characteristics of a connection with the first AP, determines second performance characteristics of a potential connection with a second AP, declares a radio link failure when the second performance characteristics exceed the first performance characteristics to trigger a handover procedure from the first AP to the second AP.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to broadcasting and receiving system information in a radio access network (RAN). In some embodiment, a base station is configured to broadcast different sets of first system information blocks (SIBs) for different classes of user equipment devices (e.g., traditional UEs and UEs having a limited link budget). Different classes of UEs may use the different sets of SIBs to initiate communications with the base station.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to performing cellular communication in unlicensed spectrum in a manner that accounts for the possible existence of hidden nodes by opportunistically introducing the use of RTS and CTS messages. A listen-before-talk procedure may be performed to determine whether a wireless medium is available. When the listen-before-talk procedure is complete, an amount of time until a next possible start time for communicating in the cellular communication system according to a timing synchronization scheme for the cellular communication system may be determined. The wireless medium may be occupied until the next possible start time for communicating in the cellular communication system in a manner selected based at least in part on the amount of time until the next possible start time for communicating in the cellular communication system. Cellular communication may be performed on the wireless medium at the next possible start time for communicating in the cellular communication system.

Abstract: A wireless communication device may conduct first wireless communications over a first frequency band according to a first radio access technology (RAT), and may detect second wireless communications conducted over the first frequency band according to a second RAT while the wireless communication device is conducting the first wireless communications. The wireless communication device may then adjust characteristics and/or parameters associated with the first wireless communications based on the detected second wireless communications. In a specific example, a wireless communication device conducting Wi-Fi communications in the 5 GHz band may detect cellular communications (e.g. LAA/LTE-U communications) also conducted in the 5 GHz band while the wireless communication device is conducting the Wi Fi communications.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (UE) may monitor grants received from respective cells associated with one or more first (e.g. licensed) frequency band(s) and one or more second (e.g. unlicensed) frequency band(s). Based on the received grants the UE may determine if an imbalance exists in the radio resource allocation, whereby the UE communicates more than intended in the second frequency band(s). The imbalance may be specified with respect to the ratio or portion of the communications that are conducted in the second frequency band(s) with respect to all wireless communications of the UE. If the UE detects an imbalance, it may transmit a report to the network (e.g. to the base station serving the UE) indicating unfavorable conditions for the UE to be operating in the second frequency band(s). In response, the network may disable the respective cell(s) associated with the second frequency band(s) and/or it may disable carrier aggregation for the UE.

Abstract: In a method of device-to-device communication, a user device initially sends an emergency message repeatedly at a first repeating frequency. When a specified number acknowledgement (ACK) messages are received, the user device sends the emergency message repeatedly at a reduced repeating frequency. The repeating frequency may be further reduced when more ACK messages are received.

Abstract: For paging user devices that are link budget limited (LBL), a base station transmits a special ID that is used by said devices to identify a paging frame and/or a paging occasion. When transmitting a paging message for an LBL device, the base station may use: (a) larger aggregation and larger CFI (than conventionally allowed) and (b) a larger number of resource blocks (than conventionally allowed) for paging payload. If paging messages for LBL devices saturate the paging frame capacity, the base station may allocate a plurality of special IDs. If paging messages for LBL devices and/or other data transfers saturate network capacity, at least a subset of the LBL devices may be directed to enter a connected-state discontinuous reception (DRX) mode, wherein those devices will remain in connected mode and periodically check for resource allocations. Paging payload information may be repeatedly transmitted in successive subframes, to support soft combining.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (UE) may include a paging subsystem that performs paging-monitoring as part of wireless communications of the wireless communication device. The UE may place wireless communication system resources not required during paging-monitoring into either a low-power state or a power-down state, and those system resources may remain in one of those respective states during paging-monitoring. The wireless communication system resources not required during the paging-monitoring may include at least a wireless communications protocol stack used during the wireless communications of the UE, and at least system resources used for performing uplink related tasks independently of wireless communication system resources used for performing downlink related tasks.